Adapter for limit switch or the like



April 27, 1955 D. Ros'ENsToN 3,180,949

ADAPTER FOR LIMIT SWITCH OR THE LIKE Filed June 25, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l IIlY///////////// /////A llllll Il VIIIIIIIIIIII I April 27, 1965 n. RosENsToN ADAPTER FOR LIMIT SWITCH OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1962 April 27, 1965 D, RosENs'roN ADAPTER FOR LIMIT SWITCH OR THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed June 25, 1962 Zfwfjn gp'afew 070, W Q @N United States Patent O 3,180,949 ADAPTER FR LIMIT SWITCH R THE LIKE David Rosenston, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Crane Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of illinois Filed .lune 25, 1962, Ser. No. 294,839 Claims. (Ci. 20G-47) This invention relates generally to an indicator mechanism and, more particularly, it is concerned with a novel adapter for limit switch or other suitable switch useful for indicating the position remotely for, say, manually operated valves on an indicator panel in a central station, powerhouse, or the like.

As will hereinafter become apparent, these switches also may function as electrical interlocks without departure from the inventive scope.

In order to obtain a better understanding of the merits of this invention, it should be understood at the outset that it has long been a problem in connection with valve operation to provide indicator means capable of easy, convenient and economical adaptation to such valves generally manually operated by providing an indication of their position, say, open, closed, or throttled, to an op- `erator or maintenance people in, say, power or manufacturing processes in the field.

Therefore it is one of the more important objects of this invention to provide a switch adapter particularly suitable for manually operated valves in which the adapter can easily and cheaply be applied without substantial effort or expense to valves already installed in which the benefits above referred to becomes desirable.

Another object is to provide for a limit switch adapter in which the mounting is not only simple, but is relatively foolproof and is capable of being applied to a wide variety of valves, such as gates, globes, angles, stop checks, and the like, whether employing rising or non- Iising, rotatable or non-rotatable stems.

Another important object is to provide for an indicator adapter construction hereinafter described in which said adapter is assembled with the valve by the simple expedient of removing a handwheel nut or the other conventional means of attachment for the handwheel and replacing said original means of attachment by a special adapter for attaching the indicating means such as the limit switch application of this invention.

Other objects and advantages will become more readily apparent upon proceeding with the following description read in light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional assembly view of a valve portion having a rising, non-rotatable stem embodying my invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary sectional assembly views taken on the lines 2 2 and 3*?, respectively of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a modified form of a manual operated valve adaptation applied to a rising rotatable stem valve;

FiG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional assembly view of the invention applied to a gear operated manual valve; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. 5.

-Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. v

Referring now to FIG. l, the complete valve to which this invention is applied is not shown, but it is a conventional rising stem, non-rotatable stem operated valve which may be either gate, globe, or stop check valve.

vIt is supplied with the usual yoke, generally designated 1, which in this case is of the split type, being provided with the yoke arms 2 and 3 joined at a central hollowl upper. portion thereof `as at 5 and d with through bolts orstuds 7 and retained in assembled position illustration by means of the nuts 8.

3,180,949 Patented Apr. 27, .1965

ICC

Within the hollow portion of the said arms 2 and 3, a rotatable yoke sleeve generally designated 9 is mounted, having the upper and lower anges 11 and 12 for said rotatable actuation Within said yoke. At an upper portion thereof, as at 13, the yoke sleeve 9 is provided with a hexagonal or other suitable polygonal portion for receiving the handwheel 14 provided with the polygonal recess or aperture 15. Ordinarily, at the end outer limit of the yoke sleeve 9, the threads 5t) are provided, the latter ordinarily being used to receive a handwheel retaining nut (not shown). However, in this case, the yoke sleeve shank threadedly receives the driving spur gear 16, the spur gear being locked to the threads 50 upon assembly therewith by means of the pin 17. Clamped between the upper surface 18 of the handwheel and the gear 16 in relativelyloose fitting relationship is the bracket generally designated 19 which is provided with an apertured flange 21, apertured as at 22 to receive the hub 23 of the said spur gear 16. The hub is preferably made of such thickness or length as to allow for the ange portion 24 of the bracket 19 to be received therebetween as illustrated, thereby allowing for said relative looseness and the consequent ease of mounting in exi- .ble attachment thereto of the bracket 19 and supported on said upper surface 18 of the handwheel 14.

Attached to an angular extension of the bracket 19, a rotary limit switch generally designated 25 is xedly mounted to said bracket by means of bolts or cap screws (not shown). The driving gear 16 has an annular arcuate portion thereof projecting through the aperture 26 of the limit switch extension and support 27 Iof bracket 19 as indicated. By such extension through the said latter aperture, the said gear meshes with the driven pinion gear 28, the said pinion gear being non-rotatably mounted on the limit switch depending shaft 29 attached at the shoulder enlarged portion 31 to the said pinion gear as illustrated.

Suice to say, the rotating gear shaft 29 actuates the limit switch mechanism gears and switches to control movement thereof and give indication at a light panel of the valve position. This indication depends upon the initial setting and the amount of rotation of the gears le and 28 in response to the movement of the valve as determined by the axial movement of the Valve stem 10 and rotation of the handwheel 14.

It is deemed unnecessary to go into any lengthy explanation as to the detailed structure specifically involved in the limit switch 25 per se, since this device is a conventional or stock item and is readily available in the open market, as, for example, of the type manufactured by the Gemco Electric Co., Detroit, Michigan, or by the General Electric Co. at Schenectady, New York, or by the Cutler- Hammer Co. at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Referring again to the stem construction, as previously mentioned, the threaded stem 10 in locating the axial position of the main valve closure member (not shown) moves reciprocally in its response to the rotation of the yoke sleeve 9 as actuated by the handwheel 14. It has been found that in order that the bracket 19 may be Suitably restrained against any substantial rotation in response to the rotation of the yoke sleeve 9, it is desirable to attach at the upper limit of the stem the rotation preventing block member 32, which as more clearly shown in FIG. 3, is slidably but snugly received Within the relieved section or space Ztl of the bracket portion 30. The said block member, as indicated, is of generally U-conguration in cross-section and is retained firmly at the end of the stem by means of the retaining nut 33 and held against rotation by means of the pin 34 as better shown in FIG. 1. It will of course be appreciated that the tendency to rotate on the part of the bracket 19 is somewhat arado/io minimized frictionally by the latter fact, not withstanding that there is the clearance as previously mentioned between the mounting of the driving gear 16 and the top. ofthe handwheel 14. Further, the rotation tendency isV further minimized by the mountings of said block member 32 as stated. In addition, it has been found that the relatively rigid attachment as at 35 for the flexible conduit Y 36 atthreads 4th aids materially in reducing the tendency for the switch assembly to rotate with the attaching coupling 37 made with the elbow member 35'. As a matter of fact, it has actually been found that the latter use and mounting of the electrical wiring conduit to the limit switch'ZS as shown at 4d is frequently sucient to restrain the limit switch and the bracket 19 againsty relativerotation with respect to the handwheel when the latter member is being rotated in the normal operation of the valve manually. Thus, the block member 32 may be dispensed with under such circumstances.

l 1t' shouldnow be apparent that all that is necessary inV the iield in order to apply the indicator of this invention granted May 15, 1962. In this modification, the valve (not shown) is provided with the usual valve yoke i6 and is arranged by a suitable adapter to receive the valve operator generally designated 47,'.the operator being attaehed in any one of a number of different ways, as, Vfor example, by means of the annularly spaced apart set screws t3 engaging the yoke hub 49 as indicated. A valve stem 1d which is the non-rotatable, rising stern type is connected in the usual manner in the Valve yoke sleeve generally designated 9. Rotation of the gearing in the housing 51 provides for the rotation of the yoke sleeve 9 in a manner similar to that described as accomplished by the handwheel 13 in FiG. l. Because of the wide varieties of ways in which the mounting by suitable fragmentary-sectional assembly shown in FIG. V4 as an example, in which a threaded valve stem 39 has a hand'- bracket 19 with its support extension 2'7, the said bracket v being suitablyapertured at 43 as previously described in connection with FIG. 1, as at 43, to receive the driving spur gear 16 mounted upon the threaded portion t4 ofY the stem 39. The gear is pinned as at 45 for non-rotatable relationship on said stem. As in the same manner described in connection with FIG. 1, the driving gear 16 i is provided with the depending hub 23, the latter having a length suicient to allow for the portion 24 tobe loosely received in the aperture 43 between the gear 16 and the vupper surface of the washer 42 as shown. Also in the same manner as previously described in connection with FIG. r1, the bracket 19 is apertured as at 26 to allow for the meshing engagement of the driving gear 16 with the driven pinion gear 28. Here, in the same manner as previously described, the electrical conduit connection in FlG. l at and 40 is generally sutiicient to keep the bracket 19Kand the attached limit switch'25 from rotating adapters may be accomplished, it is deemed unnecessary to go into any detailed explanation concerningthe specific manner in which the gear operator 47 is mounted in relai tion to the yoke in the instant modification. The housing 51 in this case is provided with the horizontally disposed shaft 52, the limit switch 25 beingiattached thereto as moreV clearly shown in FIG. 6 by means of an integral plate 53 apertured toiallow for the projection therethrough as at 54 as shown. The attachment of the plate is accomplished by means of the usual-cap screws 55.

Upon the shaft 52 at a portion immediately emerging from Vthe bracket hollowihub 56, the shaft is polygonally the latter being attached in non-rotatable relationship to the shaft 29 also in the same manner asdescribed in connection with the previous'fi'gures. AV retaining hollow substantially cylindrical housing 59 serves as a spacer to receive the polygonal extension of the reduced shaft por;

when the handwheel 14 is being rotated in the normal course of operating the valve from open to closed or to intermediate positions. In this construction, it will be understood, that theY U-form of retainer cooperating with the block rotation preventing member 32 does not apply,

Vsince the latter member isdispensable in the rotatable stem construction. While the description of the modilication in FIG. 4 has been directed Vto a rotatable rising stem, itwill vof course be appreciated that under certain types of valve constructions, the stem may be made non-rising and non-rotatable with equal flexibility in the mounting as abovefdescribed'. Thus,rthe invention has application broadly to a Wide vvariety of Valve types in Varied installations. Y

Referring to a still furtherA modified form Vshown in FIGS.5 and'6, the application of my invention. is made to a gear operated by manually actuated type of valve op.- erator, such as that identied by the'trademarkr Converte-Gear manufactured and sold by Crane Co., Chicago, 1llinois,and covered. by US. PatentNo. 3,034,371,

vcompletely described in connection with Vthe said patent.

y1t will be apparent that for -a rigid type of mounting, such as that presented in a'valve operator of the Con- Verto-Gear type, the combined bracket and indicator mounting for valve positioning indication is easily applied Y without substantial modifications being necessary in the existing structures, thus, making it economical to apply the invention in the field wherever deemed necessary.

While a plurality` of embodiments have been shown and described, it will of course be appreciated that this has been done merely in an effort to give a demonstration of the versatility of this inventioniin its application to a wide variety of valves, regardless of whether a rising or non-rising stem is used, or whether a split yoke or a ball bearing yoke sleeve construction isemployed. Thus it should Vbe clear that this invention is capable of application to many other forms not herein described, and the scope of the invention therefore should be measured by the scope of the appended claims, considered inY light of t i the art to which it is related.

l claim: 1. ln a valve position indicator for hand operated Y valves or the like, Vthe combinationof an actuated stem ing shaft carrying said driven pinion'gear for cooperation with said driving gear, a bracket for mounting the housing of said switch around the upper limits of said stem,

the said bracket having an angular transverse apertured portion for mounting said bracket swivelably around said stern upper limits and driving gear, the said bracket being rotatable means and having a side disposed apertured wall portion to allow for the protrusion therethrough and the meshing engagement of the said driving gear with the said driven pinion gear and means on said switch housing for restraining bracket against substantial rotation relative to said rotatable stem actuating means.

2. The subject matter of claim 1, the said apcrtured side wall portion of the bracket having means for carrying said indicating switch and cooperating with said actuating means to restrain said bracket against rotation.

3. The subject matter of claim l, the said switch having exible conduit means for restraining said bracketagainst rotation.

4. The subject matter of claimy 3, the said restraining flexible conduit means comprising means for supplying electrical energy to said switch.

5. The subject matter of claim 1, the said restraining means comprising exible means connected with said housing of the indicating switch to restrain against substantial rotatability of the said latter member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,646,080 10/27 Beckwith 200-47 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner. 

1. IN A VALVE POSITION INDICATOR FOR HAND OPERATED VALVES OR THE LIKE, THE COMBINATION OF AN ACTUATED STEM THEREFOR, ROTATABLE MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID STEM, A DRIVING GEAR AND DRIVEN PINION GEAR COOPERATING WITH THE SAID STEM, SAID STEM HAVING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID DRIVING GEAR, AN INDICATING SWITCH WITH A HOUSING HAVING A PROTRUDING SHAFT EXTENDING THEREFROM, THE SAID PROTRUDING SHAFT CARRYING SAID DRIVEN PINION GEAR FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID DRIVING GEAR, A BRACKET FOR MOUNTING THE HOUSING OF SAID SWITCH AROUND THE UPPER LIMITS OF SAID STEM THE SAID BRACKET HAVING AN ANGULAR TRANSVERSE APERTURED PORTION FOR MOUNTING SAID BRACKET SWIVELABLY AROUND SAID STEM UPPER LIMITS AND DRIVING GEAR, THE SAID BRACKET BEING NON-ROTATABLY MOUNTED RELATIVE TO THE ROTATION OF SAID ROTATABLE MEANS AND HAVING A SIDE DISPOSED APERTURED WALL PORTION TO ALLOW FOR THE PROTRUSION THERETHROUGH AND THE MESHING ENGAGEMENT OF THE SAID DRIVING GEAR WITH THE SAID DRIVEN PINION GEAR MEANS ON SAID SWITCH HOUSING FOR RESTRAINING BRACKET AGAINST SUBSTANTIAL ROTATION RELATIVE TO SAID ROTATABLE STEM ACTUATING MEANS. 